Description
Learn how to cook pepperoni to achieve crispy, delicious slices perfect for snacks, pizza, pasta, and more. This simple recipe offers two methods—stovetop or baking—to crisp pepperoni evenly and drain excess grease for maximum flavor and texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 4 ounces pepperoni slices
- Cooking spray or parchment paper (optional, for baking method)
Instructions
- Preheat cooking surface: If using a skillet, preheat it over medium heat. If baking, preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange pepperoni slices: Place pepperoni slices in a single layer without overlapping on the skillet or baking sheet to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- Cook on stovetop: For skillet method, cook pepperoni slices for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until edges curl and slices become crisp. Be careful not to overcook to avoid burning.
- Bake in oven: For baking method, bake pepperoni slices for 8 to 10 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning. Remove when edges are crisp.
- Drain excess grease: Transfer cooked pepperoni to a paper towel-lined plate to blot away excess grease for a less oily result.
- Serve or store: Use crispy pepperoni immediately for best texture, great for topping pizza, adding to pasta, salads, sandwiches, or enjoying as a snack. Pepperoni will crisp slightly more as it cools.
Notes
- Pepperoni slices will continue to crisp as they cool—don’t worry if they’re not fully crunchy right off the heat.
- For extra crispness, extend cooking time slightly but watch closely to prevent burning.
- Cooked pepperoni is versatile and adds a flavorful, crispy element to many dishes or as a standalone snack.
